Novatek Archives - IUVMPRESS

The current tensions were ignited last week when the Israeli regime provoked Lebanon by voicing objection after the government in Beirut announced tender for projects in two of its 10 offshore blocks in the Mediterranean Sea.

In December, the cabinet of Prime Minister Saad Hariri granted licenses to a consortium of three international companies — Italy’s Eni, France’s Total and Russia’s Novatek — to carry out exploratory drilling in Lebanon’s Block 4 and Block 9 territorial waters and determine whether they contain oil and gas reserves.

Israeli war minister provocations

The announcement infuriated the Israeli entity, which claims sovereignty over Block 9.

“When they issue a tender on a gas field, including Block 9, which by any standard is ours … this is very, very challenging and provocative conduct here,” said Israeli regime’s war minister, Avigdor Lieberman.

Continuing his hostile comments, the hawkish Israeli war minister told a conference in Tel Aviv that the international firms contracted by Lebanon were making “a grave error” by accepting the offer.

Lieberman pursued an even more aggressive line against Lebanon at the same event, warning that the country would “pay the full price” should another war erupt between the two sides.

Lebanon was quick to respond to the blatant threat, with Lebanese Energy Minister Cesar Abi Khalil stressing that Beirut was going to push ahead with its exploration plans.

“We consider this [Lieberman’s] statement as an aggression on Lebanon’s sovereignty to practice its natural right to explore our oil resources,” Abi Khalil said, adding that the block was “inside Lebanese territorial waters and Lebanon demarcated maritime borders in accordance with international laws.”

President Aoun vows to defend Lebanon

Vowing to use all the diplomatic powers vested in him to resolve the dispute, President Michel Aoun said Lebanon had a right to “defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity by all means available.”

He also warned that some elements inside the country and abroad were seeking “to create climates that are consistent with the Israeli threats to attack Lebanon.”

In a statement from his press office, Aoun urged “caution to what the Israeli enemy is plotting against Lebanon, especially since there are those who are working at home and abroad to provide a climate which is in harmony with the Israeli threats to attack Lebanon and its right to develop its oil and gas wealth on various pretexts.”

Aoun said: “Lebanon is acting to confront these Israeli allegations by diplomatic means, while reaffirming its right to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity by all available means.”

Hezbollah warns Israeli regime

Deputy chief of Hezbollah’s Executive Council Sheikh Nabil Qawook has referred to Israeli regime’s recent hostility regarding Lebanon’s oil resources, stressing the army, the Resistance and all the Lebanese will be involved in protecting the national sovereignty.

In an earlier, statement, Hezbollah maintained that the statements made by the Zionist war minister Avigdor Lieberman reflect the Israeli greed for seizing Lebanon resources, adding that they come in the context of enemy’s continuous aggression on the Lebanese sovereignty and legitimate rights.

In a statement, Hezbollah expressed its support to the stances made by the Lebanese senior officials against Lieberman’s remarks and reiterated firmly and unequivocally confronting any aggression on Lebanon’s gas and oil resources and defending the country’s facilities.

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